NFL players OK labor deal, including 17-game season

By the narrowest of margins, NFL players voted to approve a new collective bargaining agreement that will set up labor peace between players and owners for the next 11 years, the NFL Players Association announced Sunday.

The outcome of the vote, which wasn’t clarified until Sunday morning, set off a leaguewide chain of events that ultimately led to the NFL keeping intact the opening of the new league year Wednesday.

As a result, free agency will open as planned this week with the legal tampering period beginning Monday. The decision to do so came after a full day of meetings Sunday and took into account a number of factors, including concerns of the coronavirus. The league ultimately decided to move on as planned.

That means the franchise tag and transition tag deadline remains intact at 8:59:59 a.m. PT on Monday, with the legal negotiating window opening at 9 a.m. The new league year is set at 1 p.m. PT on Wednesday, at which point deals officially can be announced.

The catalyst was first making sure the new CBA was ratified, a hurdle the players cleared upon approving the new deal by a 1,019-959 vote. In doing so, they green-lighted a series of changes that include an extra regular-season week of games, an extra bye week, two more playoff games, one less exhibition week and higher minimum wages for players, who also will get a bigger piece of the financial pie.

“We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety and give our fans more and better football,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “We appreciate the tireless efforts of the members of the Management Council Executive Committee and the NFLPA leadership, both of whom devoted nearly a year to detailed, good faith negotiations to reach this comprehensive, transformative agreement.”

The NFLPA said in a statement: “This result comes after a long and democratic process in accordance with our constitution. An independent auditor received submitted ballots through a secure electronic platform, then verified, tallied and certified the results.”

Almost immediately after the outcome was revealed, NFL teams began taking care of business. With a new salary cap set at $198.2 million per club for the 2020 season, the Tennessee Titans locked up free agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill on a four-year deal reportedly worth $62 million in fully guaranteed money and $91 million in total guarantees.

The Jacksonville Jaguars traded productive defensive end Calais Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft. The Ravens then extended Campbell’s contract by two years for a reported $27 million.

The Titans’ move to re-sign Tannehill eliminates by one the potential landing spots for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has been linked to the Raiders throughout the offseason. Where Brady ultimately ends up — and the timing of his decision — will set off a frenzy of action across the NFL.

The new CBA will play a significant role in how all that unfolds.

Among the highlights of the new deal:

— Beginning in 2021, owners have the option of expanding the regular season from 16 games to 17, with each team getting an extra bye week to replace a fourth preseason game.

— The NFL will add two more teams to the playoff field beginning this season — bringing the number to seven in each conference — and award first-round byes to only the top seed in each conference.

— The players’ cut of total revenue, which currently stands at 47 percent, will increase to a set 48 percent from 2021 to 2030. However, a “media kicker” tied into a 17th game and the growth of the NFL’s new TV rights deals could push that cut even higher.

For instance, a 60 percent increase in TV rights would mean the players’ cut of revenue growing to 48.5 percent of revenue. A 120 percent increase would up that cut to 48.8 percent.

— Beginning immediately, the salaries for players playing on minimum-salaried deals — or 60 percent of the workforce — will increase from $585,000 in 2020 to $675,000 next season.

A minimum-salaried player with two credited seasons will see an increase in his salary from $660,000 to $750,000. Over the course of the new CBA, minimum salaries will grow to $1 million by 2029.

— Practice squads will increase from 10 to 12 players in 2020 and 2021 and 14 by 2022.

— NFL rosters can increase from 53 to 55 players during the week — with two practice squad players eligible to be added to the active roster — and the active game-day roster expands from 46 to 48.

— Padded practices in training camp will be cut from 28 to 16.

— While players still will be tested for substance abuse, and fines still will be levied for repeat offenders, they no longer will be suspended for positive tests for any drug the league targets for substance abuse. That does not include performance-enhancing drugs, which are still subject to suspension.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on Twitter.